Tech firms selected for Greater Manchester Future of Health challenge

UP Ventures, the global tech accelerator, has announced the 15 companies who are taking part in the new Greater Manchester Future of Health challenge - based at The Landing at MediaCityUK.

The cohort was selected by key partners in the Greater Manchester healthcare ecosystem. The accelerator programme is run by UP Ventures and delivered in partnership with Novartis, Push Doctor, Google, The Landing, MediaCityUK, Salfold Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Digital, Health Innovation Manchester and Apadmi.

Founder and CEO of UP Ventures, Danny Meaney, said “We received and reviewed hundreds of applications for the GM Future of Health Challenge and have been hugely impressed. The response is a testament to both UP’s repututation and connections in the early stage tech ecosystem, and Greater Manchester’s international reputation as a great place to grow early stage tech businesses.”

The companies that have been selected are:

BuddyHub exists to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people (50+) and promote a more active lifestyle.

Cievert is a web-based platform that tackles the problems surrounding routine patient follow-up.

Collabco’s myday platform is designed to improve engagement between users (general public) and providers to improve communication between the user types.

Evergreen Life is a Personal Health Platform allowing people to own their own health records and interact with the health and care system which is then combined with digital nudges, advice and coaching.

Flock is aimed at people suffering from type two diabetes, obesity, and smoking or alcohol addiction. It profiles users to define what each individual is motivated by and provides a pattern of digital nudges designed specifically for each individual. 

Gendius is a platform that uses artificial intelligence to calculate an individual’s risk of developing complications from diabetes. The associated dashboard enables healthcare professionals to track and monitor patients with the highest need and the hints and tips educate the patient around self-care and prevention of secondary complications.

GiveVision’s SightPlus is a clinically validated low vision aid that helps visually impaired people to see up close and at a distance.

Healum’s solutions are intended for people with long-term conditions and use behaviour change interventions to improve lifestyle and support people to self-manage their conditions.

Holovis builds some advanced visualisation and software solutions by bringing together sensing technology, data analytics, and multi-sensory, immersive interactivity to solve problems and measure and monitor patients responses and wellbeing.  

Howz is a smart home system designed to help older people suffering from conditions such as dementia or frailty to stay independent for longer by alerting systems.

ImproveWell is a quality improvement platform designed to empower frontline staff to drive change using technology that focuses on identifying operational efficiencies.

Konsie is bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the home to support elderly independent living, dramatically reducing injuries and loss of independence associated with falls, strokes and immobilising conditions.

Mind Moose helps children understand how their brain works and to develop healthy self-awareness and self-esteem by tools to support early intervention and prevention in children's mental health.

My Cognition is dedicated to understanding and improving cognition. Taking a research-based approach has resulted in has an NHS approved, MHRA accredited (CE Mark) device platform that allows a user to track, change and consolidate their cognitive health.

TriMedika is a thermometer that uses no consumables and has zero contact with the patient (infection control and patient comfort). The thermometer delivers cost and time savings for nurses and reducing hospital infections & plastic waste.

Josie Cahill, head of stakeholder engagement for MediaCityUK, said: “MediaCityUK has a great and ever-growing track record of successful accelerator programmes. Health innovation is one of our key focuses and we’re delighted to see the strength and calibre of applications. We will continue to support and encourage these types of partnership programmes which speak to MediaCityUK’s ambition to be a living lab for the UK’s most exciting and emerging technologies. Watch this space for future opportunities.”

The businesses have been selected based on their potential to transform lives through the application of innovative technology, particularly those focused on supporting people with long-term health conditions.

Emma Hoglund, head of commercial execution and digital strategy at Novartis UK said: “Medicine is being revolutionised by increasing use of digital technology and data science, and we are committed to using our expertise and resources to unlock the opportunities this offers. This programme is part of a wider initiative to collaborate with like-minded organisations to create new ideas, solutions and technologies that can help our NHS to provide better patient care. We are pleased to be able to support this programme and wish the participants every success with their projects.” 

The end of the programme will be marked by an event at The Landing, MediaCityUK in December where participants will showcase what they have learned and their progress towards addressing some of the health challenges within Greater Manchester.